Seoul:South Korea has announced the withdrawal of certain diplomatic personnel from Ukraine due to an ongoing dispute concerning the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) to Seoul, coupled with persistent threats of airstrikes across Ukraine. This information was disclosed by the South Korean foreign ministry on Tuesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean government decided on this course of action as Ukraine has not taken "positive steps" to resolve the diplomatic dispute sparked by Kyiv's unilateral disclosure of the transfer of the North Korean POWs. Additionally, the continued airstrike threats have raised concerns about the safety of diplomatic personnel, as stated by ministry spokesperson Park Doo-soon during a regular press briefing.
In other developments, unverified rumors regarding the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have been circulating on overseas social media platforms. These claims suggest that Kim suffered a brain hemorrhage, fell into a coma, and was transported to a hospital in Beijing. However, North Korean state media have reported his recent visit to a public exhibition, contradicting these rumors.
Meanwhile, a serious incident occurred in southern Seoul, where two building fires resulted in one person suffering cardiac arrest and 18 others being injured. The fires, which broke out just minutes apart, have led police to investigate the possibility of arson. Fire officials reported that one of the blazes began on the third floor of a building in the Gangnam ward at 1154 a.m. and was partially extinguished by 112 p.m.
Additionally, South Korean financial markets experienced a significant downturn, with the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) plummeting nearly 4 percent on Tuesday. This decline was attributed to investor efforts to capitalize on recent gains in major chip shares amid ongoing concerns over the artificial intelligence (AI) value chain. Despite this, the Korean won showed an upward trend against the U.S. dollar.
Lastly, South Korea has issued a stern warning to North Korea, pledging "decisive retaliation" should Pyongyang initiate further provocations. This statement followed threats from Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, to escalate military presence along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and resume propaganda broadcasts, citing increased instability at the border.